My wife Lauren is infamous for having to have a mint or piece of gum right in the middle of Sunday service. So when Johnathan over at Fool's Gold wrote this I found it particularly interesting:

This question is not simply limited to a church service. It could apply to a presentation, a board meeting, or any situation in which a silent audience is expected. In such an event, how do you open the plastic wrapper on a peppermint, for example, without causing undue distraction? I see at least four options:

Gradually unfurl the wrapper, timing each crinkle to match times of greater volume in the speaker’s presentation.

Cough very forcefully and loosen the wrapper all in one motion. You will draw attention to yourself, but it will be directed away from your fumbling hands and may even be mingled with some momentary pity.

Bank all your hope on the fleeting short-term memory of those around you and get it over with as quickly as you can.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

"In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair, the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die."Dorothy Sayer

Last week my friend and Young Life College director Brian Ferguson and I attended the Acts 29 Boot Camp in Dallas, Texas. It was a packed 2 days of good and bad stuff. First the bad, it was the stomach virus that overtook me the night before the boot camp started. We had dinner with Chad Vegas of Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield who shared with us some great insight into his church plant and its development. Following dinner I started to feel pretty crappy and it was not too long until I was having some good talks with the La Quinta toilet.

I was not feeling that great heading into day 1 of the boot camp but decided to try to suck it up and go. Upon arriving to The Village Church I immediately regretted that decision. About half way through Matt Chandler's first message I had to get up and head back to the hotel. I slept for most the day, waking up in time to make it back to the church for Darren Patrick’s message.

Darren is a pastor from The Journey Church in St. Louis. Darren’s message was on leadership and what being a church planter will cost and require of the planter and his wife. It was a great message and the phrase that still rings true in my mind is when Darren said “You will let everyone down at some point.” This little phrase struck home with me because I think I have a fear of letting people down and I need to repent of the pride that fuels that fear. He also recommended the book “Leading with a Limp” by Dan Allender which I just got in the mail today I hope to read over thanksgiving vacation. I appreciated Darren’s genuineness and honesty in his message, it was not a pep talk but was in fact like a warning call to those running into the battle. Darren also had wicked beard that has inspired me to grow mine out during the month of December.

Mark spoke about what Acts 29 is about and what type of planters they are looking for. It was great to hear Mark’s heart for church planting and his priority for Acts 29 to not become about anything other than just that church planting. That is one of the reasons for the creation of The Resurgence website where there are resources and books. Many in the blog world seem to get their Hanes bunched up over Driscoll’s use of strong language, but upon meeting him he is a nice and cool dude. Driscoll is one of those guys that you want to have over for some wings and brews to watch the UFC fight, in other words my kind of dude. In fact following his message a few of us headed over to a local sports bar where we got to meet Mark and some other planters that were at the boot camp.

Monday, November 17, 2008

I work with a lot of young men who are thinking about marriage or dating. Often times I find that what we have to work past is not a desire to serve, but a desire to be served. Because of sin men are inherently selfish (women too, but for the sake of this post I am focusing on men) and are constantly judging how things affect them. I often hear from the dudes about how they want this or that in a girl and how this supposed “wonder woman” needs to conform to their passions and hobbies. To put it bluntly they want someone like themselves only with breasts. This is not a biblical model for how men should think about women we want to date. Women were made fundamentally different from us, God had intention in this and it is more than just biology. Men we were made to be alone, but we also were not made to be with carbon copies of ourselves. Chapter 1 of “Holding Hands, Holding Hearts: Recovering a Biblical View of Christian Dating” by Richard and Sharon Phillips, gives some good wisdom pertaining to this:

“God created the woman, who was made of Adam but differently, so that Adam would know a love that was more than self-love.” (pg. 24)

“’The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved. Adam lost a rib…but in lieu thereof he had a helpmate for him, which abundantly made up his loss.” (pg. 27, quoting Matthew Henry)

What about a dog being man’s best friend?

“A dog cannot share a man’s dreams, cannot kneel beside him in prayer, cannot exhort and encourage him with God’s Word, and cannot inspire in him the self-sacrificing love that makes him godly…A woman was made to fith with a man: to match his strength with her resilience, to minister to his heart with the power given to her by God. Only a woman is a suitable helper for man.” (pg. 30)

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Randy Couture who who was on the wrong end of Lesnar's Incredible Hulk beatdown last night does not think Brock is ready for Fedor. I think he has some good points, but that fight has to happen, it would be the biggest fight in the history of MMA when it does.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

ESPN's PTI fellas obviously have not actually sat down to watch a MMA fight. To say that Boxing is this sweet science and MMA is barbarous is ignorant. Boxing is dudes throwing punches, MMA is about boxers vs martial artists vs wrestlers vs brawlers. To train to fight a guy that may not knock you out but instead submit you by locking up your ankle takes skill, that is a science.

I consider myself to be technologically up to date to a certain extent. When I read this I realized that our sinful hearts can take technology to a dangerous extent. This goes in the "What The Hell??" category:

A British couple who married in a lavish Second Life wedding ceremony are to divorce after one of them had an alleged "affair" in the online world.

Amy Taylor, 28, said she had caught husband David Pollard, 40, having sex with an animated woman. The couple, who met in an Internet chatroom in 2003, are now separated.

"I went mad -- I was so hurt. I just couldn't believe what he'd done," Taylor told the Western Morning News. "It may have started online, but it existed entirely in the real world and it hurts just as much now it is over."

Second Life allows users to create alter egos known as "avatars" and interact with other players, forming relationships, holding down jobs and trading products and services for a virtual currency convertible into real life dollars.Taylor said she had caught Pollard's avatar having sex with a virtual prostitute: "I looked at the computer screen and could see his character having sex with a female character. It's cheating as far as I'm concerned."

The couple's real-life wedding in 2005 was eclipsed by a fairy tale ceremony held within Second Life.

But Taylor told the Western Morning News she had subsequently hired an online private detective to track his activities: "He never did anything in real life, but I had my suspicions about what he was doing in Second Life."

Pollard admitted having an online relationship with a "girl in America" but denied wrongdoing. "We weren't even having cyber sex or anything like that, we were just chatting and hanging out together," he told the Western Morning News.

Taylor is now in a new relationship with a man she met in the online roleplaying game World of Warcraft.

Friday, November 14, 2008

We are a people that in our sin always seem to think the "grass is greener on the other side". A good way to measure this is if you have ever said something like, "Once I get/move/have/am with ....". If you do not think you have, you are lying to yourself and need to think harder. We all do this, the first sin of humanity was in part this type of attitude. Biblically the problem is never about getting to this stage or going somewhere else, the problem lies in our hearts. Our hearts will be continuously discontent until we have "tasted and seen" the goodness of the Lord. We were made to be ultimately satisfied in our Lord the maker of all green grass. Not until He saves and renews us can we see that our pining for something better or a "fresh start" is not our hope, Jesus is our hope! We must fight for this contentment, we must pray that as we grow to know Jesus more and more intimately we will no longer be driven by the "next big thing" in our lives cause only one main thing matters, Jesus and His Kingdom!

Working with Young Adults means working with relationships. It means listening to hurting hearts and disappointed expectations. It means being excited for upcoming marriages, and encouraging those that feel that marriage has passed them by. Ultimately it so often means pointing hearts to the Great Doctor of the Soul, King Jesus. It means that when those exciting times come to help each other keep focused on Him. As well as when hurt and pain comes, to point to Him as the only ultimate source of joy and love.

Here is a great quote found in the introduction that I have sadly seen to ring so true recently:

“More harm comes to many of us through dating than in any other way. According to the world, dating is a way for singles to enjoy the comforts and pleasures of the opposite sex. If marriage is in the picture at all, then dating is a tryout for a potential partner. The idea is to start living as if you were married and see how things go. If one isn’t finding fulfillment in the other person, the you can simply break up and move on. It’s not much different from finding the right pair of shoes. At least you can have some fun along the way, or so it goes.” (“Holding Hands, Holding Hearts: Recovering a Biblical View of Christian Dating” by Richard and Sharon Phillips, pg 14)

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Following the election last week the talk of the "anti-Christ" has risen, is Barack Obama him? Once I finish rolling my eyes at that question, or stop laughing I agree with Michael McKinley:

"I don't know if Obama is a Christian or not. If he's not, then he's antichrist in the sense that anyone who is not for Jesus is against him (Luke 11:23). But then so is my next door neighbor who smokes pot in his garage until 5:00 AM on Sunday mornings. Whether or not the president-elect is for Jesus or against him isn't my call to make.

But more importantly, this question seems to take a very America-centric view of eschatology. Monsters like Hitler, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, and Josef Stalin have all risen and fallen and have not been the harbinger of the end times. But this guy wants to socialize our health care, and Jesus is supposed to be so enraged that he will come storming back to save us?

Please. The Christian faith is doing great. Christ's church is being built. The gospel is exploding in other parts of the world. It's not the end of the world... just because you think America's going down the tubes or because you don't like the guy elected to lead one branch of the government for the next four years.

If you're struggling... just take a deep breath, put down your copy of Left Behind, and pray for the president-elect."

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MCCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

SARAH PALIN: You betcha he crossed the road, but let's not talk about that, let's talk about energy policy, and how gosh darn hard it is for a middle-class hockey mom to manage the budget of the only state in America with a massive surplus, especially while surrounded by countless Russian and Canadian chickens we have to keep an eye on.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure - right from Day One! - that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken...What is your definition of crossing?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain... alone.

JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth? That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay, too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side.' That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA: In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

In February at The Well we will be studying the book “The Reason for God” by Tim Keller in our small groups. This book is such a great apologetic book written to non-believers and done in a very good, and easy to read way. Sometimes apologetic books can get bogged down in philosophy language that much of the great wisdom of the book is lost. Keller is able to take hard subjects and make them clear and understandable to all readers. This book is a must have for all Christians to be equipped in a post-modern world where people are becoming more skeptical of Christianity. Below is a couple of quotes taken from the 2nd chapter of the book entitled: “ How Could a Good God Allow Suffering?”

“’Why does God allow evil and suffering to continue?’ and we look at the cross of Jesus, we still do not know what the answer is. However, we now know what the answer isn’t. It can’t be that he is indifferent or detached from our condition. God takes our misery and suffering so seriously that he was willing to take it on himself.” (Keller, The Reason for God, pg. 30-31)

“Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost. Embracing the Christian doctrines fo the incarnation and Cross brings profound consolation in the face of suffering. The doctrine of the resurrection can instill us with a powerful hope. It promises that we will get the life we most longed for, but it will be an infinitely more glorious world than if there had never been the need for bravery, endurance, sacrifice, or salvation.” (Keller, The Reason for God, pg. 33)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

"With the Fall all became abnormal. It is not just that the individual is separated from God by his true moral guilt, but each of us is not what God made us to be. Beyond each of us as individuals, human relationships are not what God meant them to be. And beyond that, nature is abnormal -- the whole cause-and-effect significant history is now abnormal. To say it another way: there is much in history now which should not be."(Francis A. Schaeffer, True Spirituality, Ch. 1)

Trevin Waxhas a great post with much food for thought on the subject of how our christian culture has switched out talk about who we reach.

There was a time when we spoke of unsaved people as “lost and dying and on their way to hell” – a phrase that painted a vivid picture of the stakes of being outside of Christ. We spoke of unsaved people in this way for so long that such terminology became something of a cliché.

Today, it seems that many pastors and church members tend to shy away from terms like “lost,” “unsaved,” and “unbeliever.” Instead, we speak of the people we are trying to reach as “unchurched.”

Trevin lists off a couple of reasons for why this change may not be for the best:

1. First, it indicates that our people believe the goal of the church is to grow the church.

2. Secondly, our shift in vocabulary indicates a lessening of the eternal stakes of salvation.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

"Where is this new spiritual reality in Christ to be housed or displayed?" Where can it be observed? Where is this dynamic available for us to witness, see and touch? Not in coffee houses. The local Rotary club does not display it. Neither do neighborhood or community groups, political parties, governmental jurisdictions, or even pastor fraternals and networks as valuable as they are.

The local church penultimately displays the unity and solidarity we have in Christ, the "race"-abolishing oneness we share with Him and with each other.

The local church is not a perfect display. Some people fear that talk of ethnic unity in the church borrows too much from the perfection that lies ahead in heaven.

It seems to me that our problem leans in the other direction. We need to live more fully in the already. We live beneath our inheritance in Christ. If Esau sold his inheritance for a bowl of porridge, we've sold an even greater inheritance for his leftovers. If the prodigal squandered his inheritance, we're the older brother refusing to rejoice and receive our once-dead sibling.

“O Lord, come quickly and reign on Thy throne, for now often something rises up within me and tries totake possession of Thy throne; pride, covetousness, uncleanness, and sloth want to be my kings; andthen evil speaking, anger, hatred, and the whole train of vices join with me in warring against myselfand try to reign over me. I resist them, I cry out against them, and say, ‘I have no other king thanChrist.’ O King of Peace, come and reign in me, for I will have no king but Thee! Amen.”

What an amazing prayer from this 10th century monk! We need to remember our brothers and sister in Christ on whose shoulders we stand on. Understanding the history of the church is so important for many reasons such as: 1. To see God's work and grace in the protection and growth of his people. 2. To seek forgiveness for mistakes and work to avoid repeating them. 3. To know that our time is not a time of "innovation" or "new trends" but rather a time of trust in the steadfast of God. 4. To get to know the family history we are apart of and connected to by the blood of Jesus.

I have been currently going through the book "The Story of Christianity vol.1" by Justo Gonzalez in a class I am taking from Covenant Seminary. I will be studying vol. 2 in the spring. I have really been enjoying this book and recommend it as a great starting place to understand church history.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

From Z:"Of course, it is only natural for young people to default to spending time with other young people, but the church is not a “natural” agency. The church is a phenomenon that can only be explained by the operative grace of the Holy Spirit at work through the gospel of Christ. Part of the discipleship of young people is encouraging and equipping them to be willing participants in a diverse congregation.

A further benefit of this integrated approach to reaching and discipling young people is the way they then contribute to the actual shape and color of the community. Leaders take the presence of young people actively into account as they plan the life of the church. Young people matter, not because they are the “church of tomorrow,” but because they are an integral part of the church today. They too need to understand the word of God as it is taught. They need to hear the truth as it is in Christ applied to their hearts, their idols, their struggles, their joys.

Listen to what Martin Luther had to say on the subject of teaching God’s word to the gathered congregation:

When I preach I don’t look to the doctors and magistrates of whom there are about forty in this church. I have an eye to the many young people, children and servants of whom there are more than two thousand. I preach to these, addressing myself to their needs. If other people don’t want to listen to this approach then they can always walk out! An upright, godly and true preacher should direct his preaching to the poor, simple sort of people . . . when preachers talk to me they can show off their learning—they will be well put to their trumps! But to sprinkle Hebrew, Greek and Latin in their public sermons, suggests they are merely showing off."

I want to start of saying that I am disgusted by the horrors of the holocaust of abortion. Abortion has taken the lives of over 45 million people since the passing of 'Roe vs Wade'. I believe abortion to be about life and death, not faith or politics, although both do play roles. With that said, there is quite a bit of disappointment on the views of our next president who has been very pro-abortion in his voting.My disappointment is also tempered by joy and excitement. I woke up this morning and realized that my children will probably grow up with the first memory of a president as an African-American. What a joy, what a day this is!! This step is maybe the biggest step since the abolition of slavery and one that EVERY Christian should praise the Lord for! It feels like a new day in America and it should in many ways.

I would say though that while there are reasons to rejoice and to be excited we need to be cautious too. We need to be aware that President-Elect Obama is not our Hope, he is not our Savior. Jesus Christ is our ultimate King and Lord, He has placed Obama in office. Barack Obama is a "servant of God" as Romans 13 states. This should temper our joy in a man, and our disappointment in results, whatever side you are on.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Mark Driscoll offers great advice and pastoral wisdom in this post. In it he states that we do not look for presidents for our hope, but to Jesus. I fear that whatever side of the electoral map you are in that it is easy to hope too much and fear too much when election time comes around. Driscoll's advice is truly wise.

This election season which has dominated the cultural conversation for many months has been particularly insightful regarding the incessant gospel thirst that abides deep in the heart of the men and women who bear God’s image. Without endorsing or maligning either political party or their respective presidential candidates, I am hopeful that a few insights from the recent election season are of help, particularly to younger evangelicals.

First, people are longing for a savior who will atone for their sins. In this election, people thirst for a savior who will atone for their economic sins of buying things they did not need with money they did not have. The result is a mountain of credit debt they cannot pay and a desperate yearning that somehow a new president will save them from economic hell.

Second, people are longing for a king who will keep them safe from terror in his kingdom. In the Old Testament the concept of a peaceable kingdom is marked by the word shalom. In shalom there is not only the absence of sin, war, strife, and suffering but also the presence of love, peace, harmony, and health. And, this thirst for shalom is so parched that every election people cannot help but naively believe that if their candidate simply wins shalom is sure to come despite sin and the curse.

The bottom line is obvious to those with gospel eyes. People are longing for Jesus, and tragically left voting for mere presidential candidates. For those whose candidate wins today there will be some months of groundless euphoric faith in that candidate and the atoning salvation that their kingdom will bring. But, in time, their supporters will see that no matter who wins the presidency, they are mere mortals prone to sin, folly, and self-interest just like all the other sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. To help extend naïve false hope as long as possible, a great enemy will be named and demonized as the one who is hindering all of the progress to atone for our sins and usher in our kingdom. If the Democrats win it will be the rich, and if the Republicans win it will be the terrorists. This diversionary trick is as old as Eve who blamed her sin on Satan rather than repenting. The lie is that it’s always someone else’s fault and we’re always the victim of sinners and never the sinner.

Speaking of repentance, sadly, no matter who wins there will be no call to personal repentance of our own personal sins which contributes to cultural suffering and decline such as our pride, gluttony, covetousness, greed, indebtedness, self-righteousness, perversion, and laziness. And, in four years we’ll do it all again and pretend that this time things will be different. Four years after that, we’ll do it yet again. And, we’ll continue driving around this cul de sac until Jesus returns, sets up his throne, and puts an end to folly once and for all.

In the meantime, I would encourage all preachers to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance of personal sin. He alone can truly atone for our sins. He alone can deliver us from a real hell. He alone is our sinless and great King. And, he alone has a Shalom kingdom to offer.

Lastly, for those preachers who have gotten sidetracked for the cause of a false king and a false kingdom by making too much of the election and too little of Jesus, today is a good day to practice repentance in preparation to preach it on Sunday. Just give it some time. The thirst will remain that only Jesus can quench. So, we’ve still got work to do….until we see King Jesus and voting is done once and for all.

Tonight someone's candidate will win. Jesus sits and rules.Tonight someone's candidate will lose.Jesus sits and rules.Tonight people will think their "savior" has come. Jesus sits and rules.Tonight people will be angry their "savior" lost.Jesus sits and rules.Tonight people will think they found hope.Jesus sits and rules.Tonight people will feel lost and defeated. Jesus sits and rules.Tonight people will feel safe under a new "king". Jesus sits and rules.Tonight people will fear the strength of a new leader. Jesus sits and rules.Tonight people will hope change has come. Jesus sits and rules.Tonight people will dread the same old song and dance. Jesus sits and rules.

"The Lord looks down from heaven;he sees all the children of man;from where he sits enthroned he looks outon all the inhabitants of the earth,he who fashions the hearts of them alland observes all their deeds.The king is not saved by his great army;a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.The war horse is a false hope for salvation,and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,on those who hope in his steadfast love,that he may deliver their soul from deathand keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the Lord;he is our help and our shield.For our heart is glad in him,because we trust in his holy name.Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,even as we hope in you."

Psalm 33:13-22 ESV

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.Hebrews 1: 1-4

How does the Bible instruct us to pray for “all who are in high positions”? It says,

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4).

A few observations:

1. Giving thanks “for kings” is hard when they are evil.

And, as Calvin said on this passage, “All the magistrates of that time were sworn enemies of Christ.” This shows us that anarchy is a horrible alternative to almost any ruler.

We should give thanks for rulers because “non-rule” would unleash on us utterly unbridled evil with no recourse whatever.

Again Calvin: “Unless they restrained the boldness of wicked men, the whole world would be full of robberies and murders.” The better we understand the seething evil of the human heart that is ready to break out where there is no restraint, the more thankful we will be for government.

2. The effect we pray for is “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly, and dignified in every way.”

Dignified means “serious and reverent,” not stuffy. I suspect what Paul means is not that we can’t live godly and serious lives during times of anarchy. We can. I suspect he means that peaceful and quiet lives, which are the opposite of anarchy, are often wasted in ungodly and frivolous actions.

So he is praying for a government that would give peace and quiet (not anarchy), and that Christians would not fritter away their peaceful lives with the world, but would be radically godly and serious about the lost condition of the world and how to change it.

3. Using our peace for radical godliness and serious action will lead to more effective evangelism and world missions.

This last observation is confirmed by the hoped-for outcome Paul mentions. Paul says that the reason God delights in such peaceful, Godward, serious action is that he “desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

More people will be saved if our government restrains the horrors of anarchy, and if Christians use this peace not to waste their lives on endless entertainment, but seriously give their lives to making God known.